How can we improve education, who can revitalize abstract painting, where is neuroscience headed, and what do we have to gain (or lose?) from our increasingly intricate relationship with technology in this 21st century? These are some of the questions we explore this February, our first issue of 2017.

Our out–loud recognition that it is, indeed, the 21st century, is increasing in frequency. Questioning both where we are and where are we headed, this emphasis on whenwe are arises from fear and frustration, but also hope and excitement. The 21st century carries the promise of progress while being stuck in the past (we can land a man on the Moon, but we can’t do x?!). Our dreams for ourselves continue to outmatch our current capabilities, because that is the nature of the arts, sciences, and technology—to dream beyond our means to ensure we get there.​We’ve been in this century for nearly two decades—but really, we’re only about a fifth of the way through. We’ve begun to answer some of our questions, and have made great headway on others. In many ways, the future is already here, it's just not very evenly distributed (as William Gibson would say). And a bit of that future is here, in our pages.

​I sincerely hope you enjoy this issue, and thank you, always, for reading.